Shade protector



D. W. CAUSEY SHADE PROTECTOR 4, was.

Filed April 21, 1953 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 ()FFICE SE PROTECTOR DanielW. Causey, Norfolk, Va.

Application April 21, 1933, Serial No. 667,302

6 Claims.

This invention relates to shade protectors, and more particularly to anovel flexible covering for window shades for keeping them clean andalso assisting in guiding the shade over the roller.

One of the objects of the invention is toprovide a simple, practical andinexpensive form of flexible covering which may be readily and easilyfitted to roller shades. In a measure the invention represents acarrying forward of the idea set forth in my former Patent No. 1,825,334dated September 29, 1931, the present construction however beingprimarily intended to provide a less expensive article of manufacturethereby providing the advantages of the invention of my former patent ina construction adapted to economical household use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible shade coverand means for positioning the same which cooperates with the shadebracket in a novel and practical manner.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the inventionconsists in the novel features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing and defined in the appendedclaims.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one form of construction illustrating theinvention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the fabric strip to be used as thecover.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the arms used forconnecting the flexible cover with the shade bracket.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures of the drawing.

In carrying the present invention int-o practice it is proposed toprovide the flexible cover A having a cover anchoring element B andtensioning members or arms C which cooperate with the shade brackets Dto properly position and support the flexible cover A. These elementsare all found in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive it will be observed that theflexible cover A is preferably made from a strip of paper, fabric orother material as shown in Figure 3. That is to say, the cover may bemade in the form of long strips of material of a predetermined width andhaving the seams il at opposite edges thereof, the said seamsincorporating therein the flexible anchoring element 2. In thisembodiment of the invention the anchoring element is preferably a cordor string provided at both edges of the strip. The strip material isusually made in considerable lengths by machines and is reeled or rolledso that the desired shade lengths may be cut to provide a covercorresponding to the length of the shade roller, or the width of theshade, to which the cover is to be applied. In other words, the strip offabric material A may be first cut to an excess size suificient toprovide lengths of the cord 2 which will enable them to be tied in aknot as shown in Figure 1 and then the material of the cover A itselfmay be cut back to expose the cord as shown in Figure 3.

After the cover A is made in the desired length it is only necessary tofold over the shade on its roller with the anchoring element 22positioned at the same side of the shade roller. The arm C may then bepositioned in the bracket D and the anchoring elements connected asshown in Figures 1 and 2. In connection with the tensioning arm C, itwill be observed that the same is provided with an oifset keeper end 3adapted to fit into the opening 4 in the shade bracket while the body ofthe arm is provided with the portion 5 adapted to bear against the 0side of the bracket D when the lower end 6 of the arm is engaged by theanchoring elements 2. As will be observed from the drawing the lower end6 of the tensioning arms C are provided with a plurality of seats 6a forreceiving or positioning the knotted cords 2. It will also be observedthat the lower ends of the arms are flared outwardly, and may serve as aguide for the shade in its movement on the roller.

Since the ends 3 of arms C fit in the openings 4, they may swing orpivot relative to the bracket due to the fact that the lower guidingmembers 6 of the arms are engaged by the flexible elements B of theprotector A, and, obviously, the lower end of the protector may movewith the shade when the latter is pulled toward or from the windowframe.

In applying the construction of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the purchaserobtains the cover material A in strip form, cuts the strip into coversections of the desired length, places the tensioning arms C in thebrackets D, and then after folding the flexible cover over the shade,ties the cords 2--2 together. This arrangement provides a constructionwherein both ends of the flexible cover A may be united in spaced apartrelation to provide a guideway for the shades. Also the cover A fullyprotects the shade wound around the roller from becoming soiled ormarked, as usually occurs where the shade is set for any length of timeto a definite position on the roller.

Since the arms C and strip material A which form the cover may be soldto users in any length, it will be apparent that the cover material canbe bought and divided according to the number of shades to be equipped.The arms C may be sold in pairs to correspond with the pairs of bracketswhich support the number of shades required.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides a flexible shade covering which includes a flexible cover unitequipped with an anchoring element which anchoring ele-' ment, in turn,is connected with the shade bracket by a tensioning arm. All the partsof the invention may be readily made in quantity, thus affectingmaterial economy in the matter of production and cost to the purchaser,while at the same time the material of which the covering is made may beany of the various materials suitable for the purchase such as paper orfabric, well known to the art.

Without further description it is thought that the features andadvantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, and it will of course be understood that changes in the form,proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:-

1. A shade protector including the combination with a supportingbracket, of a flexible shade cover, flexible anchoring means in oppositeedges of the cover, an arm carried by the bracket and having a portiondisposed in the zone of said flexible anchoring means whereby the lattermay be tied thereabout.

2. A flexible shade protector including the combination with supportingbrackets, of a flexible shade cover having seams provided at oppositeedges thereof, flexible anchoring elements in said seams, arms connectedwith said supporting brackets and having a portion projecting into thezone of said anchoring elements whereby the latter may be tiedthereabout.

3. A shade protector including the combination with a supporting bracketof a flexible shade cover, flexible anchoring elements in the oppositeedges of the cover and connected at their ends to form closed loops, andmeans carried by the brackets for engaging within the said closed loopsfor holding the anchoring elements and the edges of the cover taut.

4. Ashade protector including the combination with a supporting bracket,of a flexible shade cover, flexible anchoring elements in opposite edgesof the cover, and arms detachably engaged at one end with the bracketsand formed to cooperate with the brackets to resist movement toward eachother when so engaged with the brackets, the lower free ends of saidarms having a plurality of alternate ribs and valleys for receiving theends of said anchoring elements.

6. A shade protector including the combination with supporting bracketsof a flexible shade cover, flexible anchoring elements ,in oppositeedges of the cover, arms carried by the brackets and dependingtherefrom, the lower portions of said arms constituting a guide for theside edges of the shade, and the outside faces of the lower ends of saidarms being engaged by the flexible anchoring elements.

6. A shade protector including in combination, supporting brackets,tensioning arms carried severally by the brackets to move in the planethereof, said arms extending downwardly at each side of the shade and inguiding relation thereto, a flexible shade cover and flexible anchoringmeans at opposite ends of the cover connected to the lower ends of saidarms.

DANIEL W. CAUSEY.

